Today marks the 45th anniversary of the print edition of EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA, published by Ibérica Press Group. The celebration centers on an exhibition that looks forward more than it looks back. It acknowledges that there is day because there is night, carnival because Lent, a party because work. To celebrate, there are deliberate departures from routine. The exhibition presents the covers the newspaper aspires to publish in the next 45 years and embodies the synthesis of what the publication is and aims to become. These are not casual experiments in design; they are the product of the daily intellectual work carried out in the newsroom by experts who listen, explain, and connect with readers, the very core of the publication’s raison d’être. It is a bold claim to chart a possible future because the newsroom has spent 45 years explaining the present with authority.
One could choose the 45 most significant covers in the history of the newspaper by assembling the major facts it reports and the notable news reported by its journalists. One could also select the 45 interview subjects who have spoken with the paper. Yet this approach would not define EL PERIÓDICO. A long, heavy, traditional format would not capture its spirit. To remain EL PERIÓDICO, continuous change and constant innovation are required, attentive to the needs of society, especially readers, as stated by the president of Prensa Ibérica. This is the path already taken, being taken, and planned for the future.
However, a note of caution is offered for visitors to the exhibition. Two essential elements of EL PERIÓDICO are highlighted. The first is form. Expect direct, impactful headlines that view events from the readers’ perspective rather than from the vantage point of those in power. This is a core essence: simplifying complexity to foster understanding. From the outset, some have tried to diminish this approach by labeling the paper as merely a popular or tabloid outlet. Yet the truth is that what are often called serious newspapers today share the same mission EL PERIÓDICO has pursued for 45 years. The future of this publication will be evident across all platforms—print, digital channels, social networks, and in the podcast by Sergi, or in the contemporary voices of Olga Pereda, Gabriel Ubieto, Gemma Martínez, Carol Álvarez, and the editor who guides the present.
The first edition of EL PERIÓDICO, dated October 26, 1978, carried a front page with a four-column layout proclaiming, In short form, titles such as Catalan schoolchildren will be loyal to Tarradellas and The State will transfer exclusive authority over education to the Generalitat. These messages reflect the editorials of that era and the rival positions that have since evolved. The journalist Josep Pla observed that brevity is harder than length; truth must be precise, concise, and well informed rather than sprawling. Behind every one of these 45 covers lies the deliberate, collective effort of a newsroom that seeks to illuminate reality and present it in an accessible way. The paper emphasizes that ordinary people discuss subjects beyond expertise, and everyone must understand what is happening to shape the future. The covers are designed to distill and share essential information.
The second dimension of EL PERIÓDICO’s identity to be highlighted in the exhibition shows how cover themes mirror editorial ambitions. EL PERIÓDICO positions itself as a platform that centers on people, the planet, and progress—an emphasis rooted in Barcelona, Catalonia, and the broader region. The exhibition reveals the synthesis of the editorial product celebrated in these 45 years, now accessible on the website and planned to be distributed as a paper supplement at the end of October. The review looks at progress across 45 pivotal issues aimed at advancing people without compromising the planet. Forty-five analysts were consulted to forecast developments in these areas over the next 45 years, with this forward view framed by the institution’s dynamic marketing team led by Anna Domènech.
The organizers extend a special note of thanks to those who contributed to the exhibition: Rafa Julve, Iosu de la Torre, Joel Mercè, Ricard Gràcia, the editorial team, and the advertising team under the leadership of Judith Pons and Felipe de Lucas, with Juan Pedro Armendariz and Mercedes Otalora also acknowledged for their roles.
In closing, the message is clear: past, present, and future converge at EL PERIÓDICO. The paper embraces the three Ps—people, planet, and progress—as guiding principles and invites readers, advertisers, brands, and organizations sharing these aims to feel at home within the newsroom’s shared space. This is the house maintained by the editors of Prensa Ibérica and shared with 26 other newspapers.
The invitation remains to celebrate the newspaper’s history while embracing the future. Readers are urged to participate as subscribers or advertisers, to join in shaping what comes next. The call is to come together to write the next chapter, with gratitude for the past and anticipation for many years ahead.